90 THE LORE OF THE HONEY-BEE 



the hive was at first a voluntary one. This, carried 

 on from generation to generation, would react on 

 the physical organism until use became second 

 nature, and finally the present condition was 

 reached. It is a fact that the bee is now incapable 

 of voiding its excreta within the hive, or when 

 at rest. The muscles involved can come into 

 action only during, or immediately after, vigorous 

 flight. In the winter, when long spells of cold 

 occur, not a bee leaves the hive perhaps for weeks 

 together ; but an hour's warm sunshine will in- 

 fallibly bring the whole company out in a little 

 eddying crowd about the hive, and then the 

 necessary action of nature can readily be seen. 

 These cleansing flights occur on all practicable 

 occasions, and fulfil a double purpose ; for when 

 the cluster forms again, it will be between combs 

 where the stores are unexploited, and the old, steady, 

 upward feeding-march begins again in a new 

 place. In extraordinary seasons, when the cold 

 weather is much prolonged, the population of a 

 hive may die of starvation within reach of plenty, 

 no opportunity for these flights having presented 

 itself, and the cluster therefore not having left its 

 original station. And here the bee is plainly the 

 victim of her own advanced acumen. Instinct 

 would never have led her into such a foolish 

 plight ; but reason, being liable to err, errs here 

 egregiously. 



The comparison of a modern beehive with a 



